The International Labour Organisation (ILO), established in 1919 with Australia as a founding member, has long been at the forefront of promoting workplace safety and implementing global standards. In June 2022, during the international ILO conference, a landmark decision was made—hailed as the most significant advancement in workers’ rights in 25 years. The ILO adopted ‘a safe and healthy work environment’ as one of its five fundamental principles and rights at work, marking the first expansion of workers’ rights in over two decades.
This decision comes at a critical time. Every year, nearly 3 million people lose their lives to work-related accidents and illnesses, with an additional 374 million suffering injuries or sickness from their jobs. Overwork alone accounts for more than 745,000 deaths annually due to heightened risks of stroke and heart attack. This milestone has the potential to significantly reduce preventable workplace tragedies while bringing much-needed attention to psychosocial risks like stress and burnout.
We asked our speakers to reflect on this monumental change and share their thoughts on its potential impact.
When an organisation like the ILO expands the fundamental rights of workers to include ‘a safe and healthy working environment’, it certainly prompts some thought…
My first thought was – why wasn’t this already on the list of workplace human rights?
It seems to me that it should be the first and most important right, as the other four workplace rights (whilst all important) are not relevant to a severely injured or deceased worker.
I also thought about whether this change will make a difference to safety in real terms? Maybe it will, maybe it won’t, but that doesn’t change the importance of elevating workplace safety to a fundamental human right.
This change is important and significant, and should be celebrated.
Not a truer sentence is that of which we live and breathe the safety message to ensure that our own experiences are heard loud and clear.
During my presentations, I also speak of business accountability and the fact that I have walked away from jobs where my own safety has been compromised for that very reason. Having walked the path of grief, I acknowledge that we all need to get better in this space, but ask yourself the question.
“How would you feel if a colleague or employee was involved in an incident because you turned a blind eye or ignored the signs knowing it could have been prevented “?
Please get it right for your people, it’s honestly not that hard.
Ignorance is not bliss!
We grow up, get a job, go to work, and come home. For most of us, this is life for 40 or more years.
Many of us trust our employers or company to provide a safe place to do our jobs.
But what happens when our employer does not provide us with the tools, training, and equipment to do our job safely?
In many cases, someone gets hurt or killed.
This is one of the ILO’s fundamental principles. We need overarching bodies like the ILO to provide the guidelines and foundation for us to go to work and do our jobs safely, but more importantly, to be able to go home to our families at the end of each day.
Many of us never hear of organisations like the ILO unless we are interested in or work in the safety field. But when we look into what they are trying to do, we see the foundation that all workplaces should adhere to if they want to keep employees safe at work.
If you are interested, jump onto the ILO website and have a look at some of their work. I found it fascinating.
